Wanted to upgrade my M51AC pc with a gtx 1050 ti, ran into a lot of problems, looking for help.

Jun 7, 2018
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Hello everyone I hope you're all doing fine, me ? Not so well.

So about a week ago I recieved my Gigabyte gtx 1050 ti D5 4G, so all happy and eager to get to play minecraft (/s) I tried to instal it.

For about 3 days I was wrestling with this card trying to make it work but it just wouldn't work, it seemed like my bios just wouldn't recognize the card, and updates to my bios didn't do anything.

I've tried everything, and at the end of the day it seems like I had to return the card.

So... I'm still not giving up on and i still want to upgrade my pc, but I'm not sure how to go about it, if I buy another graphics card I'm still not sure it would work, so maybe I need to change the motherboard, but i'm not sure which one to pick, as I need it to be compatible with my CPU, graphics card, PSU.
It just seem a bit too much things to concider for a rookie as myself,

My budget is about 500 euros.
Here are my specs
 
Jun 7, 2018
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Hello thank you for your answer, I checked the link, but I downgraded to windows 7, i didn't like windows 8 on this computer, does that change anything ? Also my PSU is pear 360w, not sure about the model

 
Open the case, to check out the PSU. It should be like this: https://imagegallery.hwupgrade.it/gallery/1239/full/gal_6.jpg

If you can find the model, how much Amp is on +12V rail. And post back, the problem maybe from the PSU, which may not have enough power to handle the gtx1050ti.

Also your MB has the newer BIOS from 2013. But it depends on the asus BIOS, so you may still have the compatibility problem. If it is the compatibility problem, nothing you can do, return the GPU.
 
Jun 7, 2018
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I've already returned the GPU, i'm most likely going to replace the MB, I picked a gtx 1050 ti because the recomended power was 300 W, and my PSU does that much.

But since I'm changing the MB, might as well upgrade to a better PSU and graphics card, so what i'm looking for is what parts of my pc can I keep while picking a new MB/PSU/GPU ?
Can i Keep the cpu ?
What MB should I pick so it fits into the machine ?
I feel like there is no other way to upgrade my pc, am I wrong for thinking that ?
Thank you for the help you're lending me !

I've seen other threads with similar problem, but they don't seem to have as much trouble as I have
Ex 1
Ex 2
 
Yes, you can keep the cpu and RAM, HDD, etc. But you will need the MB, GPU, PSU, also the OS too, it will depend on which version OS you had. If it is from asus, you will need the new OS too, if it is the retail version, and you can use it on the new MB.

What MB should I pick so it fits into the machine ?
The case should the micro ATX format, usually the OEM will use it.

I feel like there is no other way to upgrade my pc, am I wrong for thinking that ?
Yes, for the OEM pre-built PC, you can upgrade to SSD from the HDD, add more RAM, GPU+PSU ( if the PC can recognize the new GPU), most of the OEM PC comes with 300W PSU.

I don't know what GPU you will buy, because you want to make sure the new GPU will fit into the case. Like in the link https://images.frys.com/art/product/alt_shots/9396890_22.jpg
In that picture, any GPU is shorter than 32.5cm will fit. otherwise either buy the new case or shorter GPU. You can do the same, open the case and make the measurement, for the GPU specification, you can get the info from the manufacturer website.
 
Jun 7, 2018
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( if the PC can recognize the new GPU)

That's the problem though, i don't think my pc will be able to recognize any GPU I want.

The case should the micro ATX format, usually the OEM will use it.

Okay so let's go step by step...
From what i could gather I will need a MB that is a micro ATX with a 1150 Socket... Right ?(since i want to keep the cpu)

Next up, I think I will go with your advice on getting an SSD, and instal a new OS here.

After that I will take a PSU with a GPU.

Alright, would everything work out fine if I get this config?

-Motherboard
-SSD
-GPU
-PSU
-RAM: 16,0 Go Single-Channel DDR3 @ 798MHz (Keeping the ones I've got)
-DDR: 931GB TOSHIBA DT01ACA100 SCSI Disk Device (SATA) (keeping the one I've got)
-CPU: Intel Core i7 4770S @ 3.10GHz (keeping the one I've got)
-Case: (keeping the one I've got)

Is there better alternatives to what i've selected ? Maybe better prices ? Any way to know if i will run into any compatibility/space problems ? Thank you very much again for the help.
 
Other thing you may pay attention too.
1) Buy a 250GB SSD at least, because 120 GB will be too small, you can't fill the SSD up, you have to let about 5-10% free space, otherwise the PC will not boot.
2) Make sure the SSD will be connected into the 1st SATA port.
3) When you disconnect the front panel cables, either take a picture or make the note which is which, but in case you forget, here is the standard front panel layout. https://www.intel.com/content/dam/support/us/en/images/motherboards/desktop/sb/img/fp_header.jpg
4) When you install the win7 into the SSD, disconnect the 1TB HDD or other hard drive/USB etc. Because if you don't, some of files will go to other hard drive, later you will get trouble, like the PC will not boot.
5) Because you put the win7 into SSD, check out the link for Useful SSD Articles - Part 2, "the Tweaks / Optimization section". http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/270102-32-useful-articles-part
 
Jun 7, 2018
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Hi!

I've just mesured my motherboard before commiting to buying anything, turns out it's about 21,5 x 24,3 cm
Isn't a DTX more fitting in this case ? (pun intended)